Combined roller skate and ankle support



May'G, 1941.,

s. D. WARN-ER COMBINED ROLLER SKATE AND ANKLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 25,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1941. s. D. WARNER COMBINED ROLLERSKATEAND'ANKLE surronw Filed Jan; 25, 1940 Maw 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 61D;TVarzzer Edi I l lllllllll llll Patented May 6, 194-1 UNETE Setorious1). Warner, Cincinnati, Ghio 6 Claims.

This invention relates to roller skates and has for its object toprovide a ball bearing roller skate of simple and durable constructionhaving single longitudinally alined rollers instead of the usual pairsof rollers at the front and rear of the skate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller skate, the footsupporting frame of which is formed of adiustably connected terminal andintermediate sections so as to permit said sections to be lengthened orshortened to fit the shoe of the user. 7

A further object is to provide the skate with a novel form of anklesupport so constructed as to securely brace and support the ankle Whileat the same time permitting freedom of movement of the ankle whenskating.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andefiiciency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in allthe figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a roller skate embodying the presentinvention,

Figure 2 is a front View with the ankle support removed,

Figure 3 is a top plan View,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the ankle support detached, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure4.

The improved roller skate forming the subject-matter of the presentinvention comprises a supporting frame or foot rest, preferably stamped,molded or otherwise formed of metal and including front and rearsections 5 and 6 connected by an intermediate section l. Theintermediate section I is angular in cross section and is provided withlongitudinal slots 8 which receive bolts or similar fastening devices 9carried by the front and rear sections so that after the sections havebeen adjusted to lit the foot of the user said sections may be securelyfastened in adjusted position by tightening the clamping nuts it. Thefront and rear sections are provided with depending side flanges H,between which are mounted for rotation on stub shafts l2 suitable ballbearing traction rollers, indicated at l3. The rollers l3 are preferablyarranged in longitudinal alinement at the front and rear of the skateinstead of in pairs as plicaticn .l'anuary 25, 1940, Serial No. 315,611

(Cl. sac-nee) usual so as to reduce traction and facilitate skating.

The front and rear frame sections are formed with depending portions i land it which partially house and enclose the adjacent rollers, andextending transversely through the side flanges H of the front framesection are slots l6 which receive adjustable shoe clamping memof anydesired construction and indicated at ill. The rear end of the framesection 6 is provided with an upstanding heel flange l8 curved toconform to the shape of the shoe and against which the heel rests whenthe skate is in position on the foot. The rear face of the heel flangeit is provided with a vertically disposed seat E9 in which is fitted theadjacent portion of a flat resilient ankle supporting bar it. The lowerend of the bar 2% extends through a slot 25 formed in the rear portionl5 and is firmly secured to the heel flange l8 by a bolt or similarfastening device 22.

Slidably mounted on the resilient bar 2% is a vertically split anklesupporting sleeve 23 preferably formed of leather and provided at thesplit portion thereof with spaced securing straps 2A which fit aroundthe ankle and engage suitable b-uckles 25. The ankle supporting sleeve23 is reinforced and strengthened by a metallic plate 26, the lower endof which is curved to conform to the heel of the shoe while the upperend thereof is reduced and extended vertically to form an anchoringplate 21. The ankle supporting sleeve is provided with an inner lining255 and interposed between said inner lining and the leatherconstituting the outer surface of the sleeve is sponge rubber 29 orother suitable yieldable material to form a cushioning pad. If desired,however, the sponge rubber may be omitted and the lining 13 formed ofsheeps wool or other material having a nap of sufilcient thickness toprovide the desired cushioning effect.

Secured to the rear of the ankle supporting sleeve 23 is a plate 3% andengaging said plate is a socket member 3! having laterally extendingattaching flanges formed with openings for the reception of rivets orsimilar fastening devices 33 which latter engage the metallic plate 26and the reduced extension thereof and serve to rigidly support thesocket member against accidental displacement. The member 3| is molded,stamped or otherwise formed with a socket 34, the lower end of which isopen and flared laterally, as shown, to accommodate flexing movement ofthe resilient bar 20. The upper end of the socket member terminatesshort of the upper end of the plate at said upper end are spaced guideflanges 35 defining a guide seat 36 for the adjacent portion of theresilient bar 213. The inner wallof the socket 34 at the flared portionthereof is preferably curved laterally, as indicated at 31, so as topermit a limited forward movement of the ankle supporting sleeve andthus allow freedom of movement of the ankle in the act of skating. Therear section 6 of the frame is formed with transversely alined inclinedslots 33 through which extend securing straps 39 for the purpose offastening the skate over on the instep. If desired, auxiliary inclinedstrap receiving slots 49 may be formed in the rear section of .the frameof the skate to receive the straps 39, or if it is desired to morefirmly clamp the skate to the foot, the auxiliary slots 29 may receiveextra securing straps. It will thus be seen that the device provides acombined roller skate and ankle support, the ankle being firmly bracedwhen skating while at the same time permitting freedom of movement ofthe ankle incident to skating around curves or performing fancy figuresor gyrations, If desired, instead of using the straps 26, the front oropen end of the ankle supporting sleeve may be provided with hooks andeyes so as to permit the sleeve to be laced up in the same manner as anordinary shoe.

30 and arranged It will, of course, be understood that the roller skatesmay be made in different sizes and shapes and that the ankle supportthereof may be used in connection with ice skates if desired withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame, an upright bar secured tothe heel portion of said frame, an ankle supporting sleeve, and a socketmember secured to the sleeve and through which the upright bar extends,the lower end of the socket member being flared outwardly to permitlimited lateral movement of the sleeve.

2. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame, an upright resilient barsecured to the heel portion of said frame, an ankle supporting sleeveslidably mounted on the bar, and a socket member secured to the sleevethrough which the upright bar extends, the lower end of the socketmember being open and flared outwardly to permit limited lateralmovement of the sleeve.

3. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame including a heel portionhaving a seat formed therein, an upright bar fitted in the seat andSecured to said heel portion, an ankle supporting sleeve, and a socketmember secured to the rear portion of the sleeve and having its oppositeends open to receive the bar, the outer wall of the socket member at thelower end thereof being flared outwardly to permit lateral movement ofsaid sleeve.

4. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heelportion provided with a seat and a transverse slot extending through theframe and communicating with the seat, an upright bar secured to theheel portion at said seat and having its lower end fitted Within theslot, a split ankle supporting sleeve slidably mounted on the bar,interengaging fastening devices oarried by the split portion of thesleeve, a socket member secured to the rear portion of the sleeve andslidably receiving the bar, the lower end of the socket member beingflared outwardly to permit limited lateral movement of the sleeve.

5. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heelportion provided with a seat, an upright bar secured to the heel portionat said seat, a reinforcing plate secured to the inner surface of thesleeve and provided with a vertical extension, a pad fitting over theplate, a socket member arranged at the rear of the sleeve and throughwhich the bar extends, said socket member being provided with lateralattaching flanges, fastening devices extending through the flanges andreinforcing plate, the lower end of the socket member being flaredoutwardly to permit limited lateral movement of said sleeve.

6. A skate comprising a foot supporting frame having an upstanding heelportion formed with a seat, there being a slot formed in the frame atthe rear end of the skate, an upright bar fitted in said seat with itslower end extending within the slot, a fastening device extendingthrough the lower end of the bar and engaging the heel portion, an anklesupporting sleeve, a reinforcing member having its lower end curved toconform to and adapted to bear against the inner surface of the sleeveand provided with a vertical extension, a pad covering said plate, meansfor securing the sleeve in position on the ankle of the user, a platebearing against the rear portion of the sleeve, a socket member engagingthe plate and having its upper end provided with spaced guide fingersand its lower end flared outwardly, and fastening devices extendingthrough the socket member, plate and reinforcing member.

SOTORIOUS D. WARNER.

